Dustdevils Know How to Give
TAMIU students have given back abundantly to their
community during the past five years, volunteering in
various community projects designed to assist Laredo and
the South Texas region.
Since 2010, a total of 2,097 TAMIU students have
clocked in over 90,223 volunteer hours through projects
coordinated by the Office of Student Conduct and
Community Engagement, making a monetary impact of
$1,984,906 in the community. Students not only experience
the satisfaction of making a difference in the community, but
also learn leadership skills applicable in the workplace while
networking with future employers.
Now, that’s the impact of Dustdevil Volunteers!
Lamar Bruni Vergara Grant
Expands TAMIU Literacy Center
The power to read and succeed has been
strengthened with the expansion of a TAMIU-led literacy
program for elementary school students.
The TAMIU Literacy Enrichment Center (LEC)
expansion was fueled by a generous $300,000 grant from
Trustees of the Lamar Bruni Vergara Trust, longtime TAMIU
philanthropic partners.
LEC director Dr. Philip Roberson, College of Education
clinical associate professor and coordinator of assessment
and special projects, said the program was piloted in 2011
at Henry Cuellar Elementary School.The Trust’s start up
grant also funded an LEC at Ligarde Elementary School.
Cuellar and Ligarde LECs have served 320+ students.The
grant impacts students at new sites at Killam and Zaffirini
elementary schools (United Independent School District)
and at Macdonell School (Laredo ISD).
“Initial results among students served provide strong
evidence of success.Teachers report students show marked
improvement in motivation, self-esteem, and reading level,”
Dr. Roberson explained.
LECs are public school-based reading clinics using
a literacy intervention model. Research-based best
practices in literacy instruction are utilized and students are
supervised by TAMIU College of Education faculty.
Photo: LISD
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